What was your favorite Penn State road trip or Bowl game you attended?
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My first trip to Beaver.....November 1966 vs Syracuse. Floyd Little returned a punt to win. Outcome was a bummer.....but I was hooked on PSU Football for life.
Shared a tent with some LSU fans thru pregame downpour. Never saw a field that bad.
A better story would have started like this:
”Pitched a tent with some lsu co-eds…”
I was at that game…I remember the mounted police on the walk back the car. The ‘Cuse fans were loving life.
You’re really missing out if you don’t go to away games. You get to experience other campuses, traditions, food and drinks. And, even with that, you’ll appreciate the Happy Valley/Beaver Stadium experience even more. For us, we get a bonus because it’s usually less expensive to visit away games since hotels, airfare, car rental and ticket prices are cheaper.
I went to every game, home and away, in 2012. Already had it planned out before the sanctions and then went with it.
I've been to all of the major bowls since, Indy, and Dublin but beating the absolute hell out of Iowa that season was super satisfying.
I've been to all of the major bowls since, Indy, and Dublin but beating the absolute hell out of Iowa that season was super satisfying.
Only attended 1 bowl game so far pinstripe bowl against BC. Won in OT on a field goal. Great day in NYC. PSU took over the city and subways.
Non bowls: beating the piss out of ND. We were standing up against press box in front oh Hornung and ND broadcast team. I spotted that the RG was tipping run or pass with his stance and yelled it out to my buddies. 5 minurs later we hear Hornung echoing my tip on theeir broadcast. After the game we waited and then went inyo press box and took the elevator down.
also 14-14 at Pitt. Last play 40yd FG to tie it up.We had seats in temporary bleachers on psu sideline.
Non bowls: beating the piss out of ND. We were standing up against press box in front oh Hornung and ND broadcast team. I spotted that the RG was tipping run or pass with his stance and yelled it out to my buddies. 5 minurs later we hear Hornung echoing my tip on theeir broadcast. After the game we waited and then went inyo press box and took the elevator down.
also 14-14 at Pitt. Last play 40yd FG to tie it up.We had seats in temporary bleachers on psu sideline.
# 1 Fiesta Bowl - We bought scalped tickets at the game. Sat amonst all Miami fans (and my wife was PSU loud). Game down to the wire & our section was empty - I guess they were used to winning by 3 TDs. Only the quiet couple in front of us was left at the end of the game - Penn State fans who gladly took our pix with the score in the background. To this day I have not been forgiven by my wife for not buying Fiesta Bowl PSU stuff before kickoff. After the win, all we could find was Miami #1 fingers. And a PS - when my wife called her parents in Lancaster collect from the pay phone in stadium - the operator was glad to hear the victory.
#2 Illinois win - Got tickets through Illini alumi friends and sat in the Illinois section. At halftime they asked us if our team had even showed up to play. Exciting end to the game.
#2 Illinois win - Got tickets through Illini alumi friends and sat in the Illinois section. At halftime they asked us if our team had even showed up to play. Exciting end to the game.
For me it was the 1992 Fiesta Bowl (after the 1991 season), against Tennessee. We had a great trip with the Alumni group. We stayed at the hotel at South Mountain which has a golf course. We played that course twice. We had a great New Year’s Eve party. Got up and played golf before the game. The game was one to remember. We scored early on a recovered fumble, but then did nothing for the next 30 minutes of the game. Tennessee scored 17 points and we were behind and looked terrible, we could not run or pass. Then we got a great punt return and scored. From that point we could do no wrong and went on to win 42-17
I’ve told this story before. But it’s fun and worth repeating!
I was a freshman at KU in 1968 and “survived” the PSU 15-14 Orange Bowl victory.
The following fall (10/4/69) PSU travelled to Manhattan, KS to play Kansas State and Lynn Dickey.
PSU’s D dominated the game until a late bomb against a reserve DB made the final score deceptively closer, PSU winning 17-14.
PSU had these two young running backs, Frank O’Harris (HAHA) and Lydell Mitchell, as well as the Mike Reid / Steve Smear defensive tackle combo and of course the best punt returning linebacker in CFB history, Dennis Onkotz.
I was honored to watch this team on their way to back-to-back undefeated seasons!
I was a freshman at KU in 1968 and “survived” the PSU 15-14 Orange Bowl victory.
The following fall (10/4/69) PSU travelled to Manhattan, KS to play Kansas State and Lynn Dickey.
PSU’s D dominated the game until a late bomb against a reserve DB made the final score deceptively closer, PSU winning 17-14.
PSU had these two young running backs, Frank O’Harris (HAHA) and Lydell Mitchell, as well as the Mike Reid / Steve Smear defensive tackle combo and of course the best punt returning linebacker in CFB history, Dennis Onkotz.
I was honored to watch this team on their way to back-to-back undefeated seasons!
2009 road trip to Northwestern with MaconNitt and a few other friends. Breakfast at Newark airport and one friend offers to buy breakfast, several rounds of Screwdrivers and he got a $160 breakfast tab!
Stayed near O’Hare and took the trains everywhere. My wife and I had met a couple from Chicago on prior B&B PSU home games and they told us the Alumni Chapter was hosting a huge tailgate for the game. Halloween that day, great tailgate with various costumed folks, including a tent full of Northewesrern fans in purple pimp outfits and a dude with a horned Viking helmet and lederhosen drinking from a huge stein walking around. Great win, train ride back to hotel, everyone going out for Halloween, Count Chocula and a Troll on the packed train. Had to walk to another train because part of the rail was shut down, windy as heck, and we hear a thumping sound and look up the street and a dude in a rabbit outfit with a top hat was hopping down the street with a young lady in a very short skirted costume. Surreal. Plus having to deal with some down on their luck and questionable MH homeless persons on the train out. Remember, don’t make eye contact, it doesn’t end well! Also the Friday before my one friend and I got to see the Blackhawks vs Canadiens. A terrific trip with great memories. MaconNitt and I have been to NW a few years ago and the wives want to go next time. This is a great road trip especially hitting Chicago.
Stayed near O’Hare and took the trains everywhere. My wife and I had met a couple from Chicago on prior B&B PSU home games and they told us the Alumni Chapter was hosting a huge tailgate for the game. Halloween that day, great tailgate with various costumed folks, including a tent full of Northewesrern fans in purple pimp outfits and a dude with a horned Viking helmet and lederhosen drinking from a huge stein walking around. Great win, train ride back to hotel, everyone going out for Halloween, Count Chocula and a Troll on the packed train. Had to walk to another train because part of the rail was shut down, windy as heck, and we hear a thumping sound and look up the street and a dude in a rabbit outfit with a top hat was hopping down the street with a young lady in a very short skirted costume. Surreal. Plus having to deal with some down on their luck and questionable MH homeless persons on the train out. Remember, don’t make eye contact, it doesn’t end well! Also the Friday before my one friend and I got to see the Blackhawks vs Canadiens. A terrific trip with great memories. MaconNitt and I have been to NW a few years ago and the wives want to go next time. This is a great road trip especially hitting Chicago.
I was there being pelted by hot dogs by the OSU student section, my senior year.
You were probably right below me, then, as I know the section near Block O was a PSU road section. I'd just started at tOSU for grad school and was in B deck near Block O. Some of the guys from my old dorm were sitting in front of me (guys from Potter House, as I recall) and we got to hang out after the game.
2009 road trip to Northwestern with MaconNitt and a few other friends. Breakfast at Newark airport and one friend offers to buy breakfast, several rounds of Screwdrivers and he got a $160 breakfast tab!
Stayed near O’Hare and took the trains everywhere. My wife and I had met a couple from Chicago on prior B&B PSU home games and they told us the Alumni Chapter was hosting a huge tailgate for the game. Halloween that day, great tailgate with various costumed folks, including a tent full of Northewesrern fans in purple pimp outfits and a dude with a horned Viking helmet and lederhosen drinking from a huge stein walking around. Great win, train ride back to hotel, everyone going out for Halloween, Count Chocula and a Troll on the packed train. Had to walk to another train because part of the rail was shut down, windy as heck, and we hear a thumping sound and look up the street and a dude in a rabbit outfit with a top hat was hopping down the street with a young lady in a very short skirted costume. Surreal. Plus having to deal with some down on their luck and questionable MH homeless persons on the train out. Remember, don’t make eye contact, it doesn’t end well! Also the Friday before my one friend and I got to see the Blackhawks vs Canadiens. A terrific trip with great memories. MaconNitt and I have been to NW a few years ago and the wives want to go next time. This is a great road trip especially hitting Chicago.
I was at that game and at the tailgate. Son #2 was working in Chicago at the time and he got the tickets that were on the NW side of the stadium. Still a fun time because the NW folks are pretty calm.
Learned about the local alumni chapter tailgate (maybe from these message boards) and had a blast pregame. It was on campus with access to building interior to "drain the tank". NW ran busses from campus to the stadium.
Went in 2011 also. Saw JoePa riding in golf cart to the press box elevator. Hard to fathom that was probably his next-to-last game.
While the NW trips were great, my forever favorite was 48-14. Happy Birthday, dear Jackie!
Just recently. I live and work in Pittsburgh. The 51-6 massacre. Lots of noise at the start and lots of silence at the end from Pitt fans most of whom left in the third quarter. Stayed the whole game, was totally soaked but enjoyed every minute of it.
48-14 doesn't work anymore with the younger fans but 51-6 is the great equalizer now.
48-14 doesn't work anymore with the younger fans but 51-6 is the great equalizer now.
1994 Rose Bowl - Stayed in Vegas for the week leading up to it
1995 Outback Bowl - Played Auburn in a monsoon at the "big sombrero" . Not a big game or anything, just had one of the best times.
Of all the games I have gone to I chuckle that two of the most fun were back to back.
1995 Outback Bowl - Played Auburn in a monsoon at the "big sombrero" . Not a big game or anything, just had one of the best times.
Of all the games I have gone to I chuckle that two of the most fun were back to back.
Stayed in Vegas before both 1987 Fiesta and 1994 Rose…great money saver and had a blast!
1983 Sugar Bowl because it was for the Natty. I was also 19 and legal to drink on Bourbon St. UGa fans outnumbered us about 2-1 and leading up to the game were quite adamant that the game was but a mere formality. After the game we owned Bourbon St.
Croke Park Classic was great because you won’t find a better city in the world to pregame. And the game was a classic too, as it ended with a walkoff FG.
1999 at Miami. Chafie Fields “no flags, no flags, no flags,” Whooping it up while exiting the Orange Bowl after the Miami fans gave us so much **** walking in. Post game party on South Beach was very nice.
Croke Park Classic was great because you won’t find a better city in the world to pregame. And the game was a classic too, as it ended with a walkoff FG.
1999 at Miami. Chafie Fields “no flags, no flags, no flags,” Whooping it up while exiting the Orange Bowl after the Miami fans gave us so much **** walking in. Post game party on South Beach was very nice.
Ended up sitting in the Michigan student section for that game (long story why, my friends and I were spread throughout the stadium) and lived to tell the tale. It helped that, by sheer dumb luck, my seat ended up being next to 4 other PSU fans. Great game. PSU got the big early lead and then almost blew it.
1996 @ Michigan. The Lions tattooed the SkunkBears In the Big Dump. A bunch of Michigan Men sitting behind my wife and I were whining about the Big Ten letting the Lions into the Conference . It was the Lions 3rd straight win in the series.
As echoed in earlier posts:
1a - 87 Fiesta Bowl. Vacationed all over Arizona…even went to Nogales. Partied in Shane Conlan’s room after the game!
1b- Dublin Trip. Lions fans overwhelmed Temple Bar for the 3 days we were there. Went to County Mayo for a week afterwards….epic. Drank so much Guinness….
2 - BIG 10 Championship in Indy. Had a great time…Whisky fans were great. And when we booed the living **** out of Delaney, and the mortified look on his face. Priceless
1a - 87 Fiesta Bowl. Vacationed all over Arizona…even went to Nogales. Partied in Shane Conlan’s room after the game!
1b- Dublin Trip. Lions fans overwhelmed Temple Bar for the 3 days we were there. Went to County Mayo for a week afterwards….epic. Drank so much Guinness….
2 - BIG 10 Championship in Indy. Had a great time…Whisky fans were great. And when we booed the living **** out of Delaney, and the mortified look on his face. Priceless
